Liquid mass disseminator



March 1o, 1970 l L, ZERNQW' am. 3,499,384

LIQUID MASS DISSEMINATOR Filed Feb. 13. 1968 3,499,384 Patented Mar. 10, 1970 ice 3,499,384 LIQUID MASS DISSEMINATOR Louis Zernow, Glendora, and Ronald E. Brown, Altadena, Calif., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Filed Feb. 13, 1968, Ser. No. 705,043 Int. Cl. F42b 25/12 U.S. Cl. 102-6 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for dissemirating liquids, having a rupturable container in which the liquid mass to be disseminated intact is stored. The container is launched into a high velocity air stream ranging from sonic to supersonic speeds. The container is then ruptured by explosive means and the liquid mass is ejected, as an intact mass, into the high velocity air stream. Thereby, the liquid mass is disseminated rapidly over a wide area.

Background of the invention This invention relates to an apparatus for disseminating liquids and, more particularly, for disseminating liquids into, and throughout, an air stream which is at sonic or supersonic velocity.

In the prior art, liquids are disseminated into air streams whose velocity relative to the liquid is sonic or supersonic by the use of small diameter injection-type apparatuses. However, it is often desirable, and many times necessary, to attain, or attempt to attain, dissemination of the liquid at rates much higher than are obtainable with the use of conventional apparatuses.

This invention increases the rate of dissemination of the liquid by introducing the liquid, as a mass or slug, into the sonic or supersonic air stream.

Although this invention is primarily concerned with the rate of aerosolization of the liquid, rather than with the rate at which the liquid, as a mass, is introduced into the sonic or supersonic air stream, the invention does permit high rates of introduction or ejection of large masses of liquids into high velocity air streams.

Summary of the invention This invention provides an apparatus for disseminating liquids into, and throughout, an air stream which is at sonic or supersonic velocity.

One object of this invention, therefore, is to cause rapid and wide dispersion of a liquid in a high velocity air stream.

Another object of this invention is to permit aerosolization of liquids without the use of external means to cause aerosolization.

Still another object of this invention is to control the rate of introduction or ejection of the liquid mass into the air stream, thereby permitting some control over the droplet size distribution of the aerosolized liquid.

These and still further objects will become readily apparent after a consideration of the description and all of the drawings.

Description of the drawing FIGURE l is an elevation view, partially in crosssection, of one embodiment of Ithe invention;

FIGURE 2 is a simplied schematic view, in elevation and cross-section, of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 3 is still another embodiment shown in simplfied cross-section and in elevation.

Description of the embodiments With reference to FIGURE 1, casing 10 comprises an open-ended right circular cylinder member 11 to which flange rings 12 and 13 are welded at each end. Capping plate 14 is at one end of cylinder 11 and capping plate 15 is at the other end. These capping plates are aixed to ange rings 12 and 13 of cylinder 11 by bolts, such as 16, 17, 18 and 19, and by nuts, such as 20, 21, 22 and 23. Gaskets 24 and 25, preferably of rubber, are interposed between flange rings 12 and 13 and capping plates 14 and 15.

Within casing 10 is a container 26, impervious to liquids and which may be of rigid or of exible material, such as polyethylene, in which the liquid to be disseminated is stored. Interposed between the inner surface of cylinder 11 and container 26 are linear cutting charges, such as 30, preferably aluminum clad, each in a section of angle iron, such as 31, as support for the individual linear cutting charge. At each end of the space in which container 26 is positioned, are circular cutting charges, such as 32, preferably lead clad. Disposed between, and abutting upon, linear `cutting charges 30 and circular cutting charges 32 are boosters, such as 33. Detonators, such as 34, are suitably placed with leads, such as 35, going therefrom to terminal 36, external of capping plate 14. Suitably contigurated spacers, such as 37, are at each end of cylinder 11, in the space, between gaskets 24 and 25 and each end of container 26, forming a compartment housing container 26. The rigid spacers 37, are preferably of rigid thermoplastic resin, or the like, such as Flexiglas, the trademark designation for a cast acrylic thermoplastic resin (polymethyl methacrylate).

With reference to FIGURE 2, the liquid to be disseminated is stored in a portion of a cylinder member 60, which is closed at one end except for a small diameter hole 70. More specifically the liquid is stored in the compartment formed by the inner surface of cylinder 60 and end plates 61 and 62. A linear cutting charge 63, together with an initiator 64, is placed on the external face of end plate 61. End plate 62, on the surface external tov the liquid storage area, faces a piston 69 with rod 68. The rod 68 is of appropriate diameter to t through hole 70, and is of sufficient length to extend beyond the closed end of cylinder 60. Interposed between piston 69 and closed end of cylinder 60, and disposed axially along rod 68, is compressed spring 67. An explosive rod cutter 66 and initiator 65 are external to cylinder `60 at the closed end and on rod 68.

With reference to FIGURE 3, the liquid to be disseminated is stored in a portion of a cylinder member 80, which is open at one end and closed at the other end, except for a nozzle 81. More specifically the liquid is stored in the compartment formed by the inner surface of cylinder and end plate 82 and piston head 83. Linear cutting charges 84, with an initiator 85, are placed on the external face of end plate `82. Disposed in the annular space between piston head 83 and nozzle 81 is a propellant 86 with squib and igniter 87. A pressure relief blowout disc 88, in the form of an annular ring which is an integral part of cylinder 80, is located between piston head 83 and squib and igniter 86.

MODE OF OPERATION OF THE EMBODIMENTS As to the embodiment shown in FIGURE l Casing 10, in which is container 26 which houses the liquid to be disseminated, is launched, released or the like, into a high velocity air stream by suitable means, such as dropping from a high speed aircraft. Simultaneously, the explosive train is activated. That train includes, but is not necessarily limited to, detonator wires 35, detonators 3 36, boosters 33, circular cutting charges 32, and linear cutting charges 30.

After activation of the explosive train, and as a direct result thereof, casing 10 and container 26 are ruptured. Thereby, the liquid to be disseminated is presented or dumped as a mass into the high velocity air stream. As is well known, at the time of dumping the liquid mass is actually a grouping of rather large drops, i.e., 5%" to 3 in diameter, that are referred to as slugs These slugs are quickly torn apart by the aerodynamic forces exerted by the high velocity air stream, form smaller droplets, and are aerosolized.

Although droplet size and rate of aerosolization are determined by the relative air stream velocity and the physical properties of the liquid disseminated, the net result is very rapid and wide dispersion of the liquid.

As to the embodiment shown in FIGURE 2 Cylinder 60, which contains the liquid to be disseminated, is launched, released or the like, into a high velocity air stream by suitable means, such as dropping from a high speed aircraft. Simultaneously, the explosive trains are activated. Initiator 64 sets off linear cutting charge 63 and, at the same time, initiator 65 sets off explosive rod cutter 66. Spring 67 urges piston 69 forward which, in turn, pushes end plate 62 forward. The liquid is, thereby, ejected into the air stream and rapid, wide dispersion of the liquid is obtained.

As to the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3 Cylinder 80, which contains the liquid to be disseminated, is launched, released or the like, into a high velocity air stream by suitable means, such as dropping from a high speed aircraft. Simultaneously, the explosive trains are activated. Initiator 8S sets Off linear charge 84. At the same time, squib and igniter 87 set olf propellant 86. The backward explosive force exits through nozzle 81 and pressure relief disc is blown, The forward explosive force pushes piston head 83 forward, thereby pushing and ejecting the liquid into the air stream with resultant rapid and wide dispersion of the liquid.

While there has been shown and described the fundamental novel features of the invention, as applied to the preferred embodiments, it is understood that various substitutions and omissions may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example: The liquid, in slug form, may be ejected into the high velocity stream by ram-air from the aft section of a ram-air ejector.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for disseminating a liquid into an air stream which is at sonic or supersonic velocity comprismg:

(a) a casing, including a hollow open-ended cylindrical member, a flange ring aixed, and made integral to, the exterior surface of said cylindrical member at each end of said cylindrical member, capping metal plates ffatcnd t() Said flange rings, and gaskets i1;-

4 terposed between said flange rings and said capping plates;

(b) a container, impervious to liquids, mounted Within said casing for storing the liquid to be disseminated;

(c) spacers, at each end of said cylindrical member of said casing, in the space between each gasket and the nearest end of said container;

(d) means for launching said casing and its contents into said air stream;

(e) and means for rupturing said casing and said container in said air stream, wherein said means comprises an explosive train, including:

(l) linear cutting charges disposed within and horizontally along the inner surface of said casing in the annular space lbetween the inner surface of said casing and the outer surface of said container;

(2) circular cutting charges, disposed longitudinally along the inner surface of said cylinder and at either 'end of the space in which said container is mounted;

(3) boosters, disposed between and abutting upon, said liner cutting charges and said circular cutting charges;

(4) and detonators, disposed in the space between said casing and said container, adjacent to, and abutting upon, said boosters and said circular cutting charges, with leads from said detonators to an activating source external to said casing.

2. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said linear cutting charges are aluminum clad.

3. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said circular cutting charges are lead clad.

4. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said linear cutting charges are each supported in place by a section of angle iron axed to the inner surface of said casing.

5. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said container is of polyethylene.

6. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said means for launching said container and its contents includes the release of said container and its contents from a aircraft into said air stream.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,3 85,502 9/1945 Finley 102/-6 2,442,3 8l 6/1948 Short 102-6 X 2,509,213 5/1950 Colby 102-90 X 2,996,985 8/1961 Kratzer 102-7.2 3,207,071 9/ 1965 Le Tourneau 102-6 SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Primary Examiner 

